Kathryn Ann Macan

Kathryn Ann (Miller) Macan was born May 8, 1935, in Ritzville, Washington to Henry and Lora (Koch) Miller. As a young girl, she spent the first years of her life in the small town of Outlook before her family moved to the farm in Sunnyside where she spent the rest of her school years with her parents and younger sister, Carol. Kathryn always knew her Volga German family history, coming from Kolb, Russia to Tacoma, WA and then onto Ritzville, WA to farm the land. There were many family stories told and handed down through the generations of their struggles and triumphs. Growing up on a farm in the Yakima Valley, instilled a hard work ethic and Kathryn’s love of fresh fruits and vegetables. However, never being the “morning person”, getting up early to cut asparagus as a teenager proved to be a challenge! 

Kathryn was a good student. She had a strong friend group growing up. She was especially close to Patty Flower and Karen Thompson throughout their school years and connecting often in their adult lives. They were all involved in Camp Fire Girls together and took on many projects in their community. This helped foster a strong desire to continue volunteer work for the duration of her life. 

Kathryn graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1953 and went to Washington State College in Pullman to pursue a teaching degree. There she met her future husband, John Macan. They were married on September 22, 1956 and headed to California where John had a job with Standard Oil. They later relocated to Corvallis, OR so John could complete his master's degree in chemical engineering. Daughter Luann arrived in February of 1959. 

The next several years were spent in the Grays Harbor area, living in Aberdeen where daughter Lauren was born in 1960, and then moving to Hoquiam while John worked for Weyerhaeuser in Cosmopolis. John was eventually transferred to Olympia and then to Kelso, where the family stayed until both girls graduated from high school.

During all these moves, as a homemaker, Kathryn got involved with her church, the girls’ school activities, and community work. She was always in a Church Circle, a Sunday school teacher or a Vacation Bible school helper, and involved in PTA, tutoring students with their reading, or being a room mother. She volunteered for several years as a Camp Fire leader. Her schooling to become a teacher and her interest in learning led Kathryn to work as a museum volunteer at the Capitol in Olympia. She delivered meals through the Meals on Wheels program, was a Laubach Literacy tutor for adults learning to read, and chauffeured elderly church members to the store or appointments. Kathryn put her sewing skills to work to help provide many quilts (and care kits) for Lutheran World Relief, an organization near and dear to her heart.

In her free time, Kathryn was an avid reader. She especially enjoyed novels set in the World War II era, Volga German history, and mysteries. Kathryn was part of a bridge group with her sister, Carol, for many years and cherished the time they could spend together. She loved participating in water aerobics at the Parkland Community Club where she attended classes for over 30 years.Kathryn was raised in the Christian faith. Her family attended Calvary Lutheran Church in Sunnyside where she went to Sunday school and was confirmed. Wherever she lived, church and faith were a part of her life. From the beginning of her life to the end, she held onto her faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior and Redeemer.

Kathryn is proceeded in death by her parents, Henry and Lora, and sister, Carol. She is survived by her husband, John, her daughters Luann (Laurie) and Lauren (Greg), grandchildren John (Heather) and Lina Maria (Donovan), and great grandchildren Savannah and Greyson, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and in-laws on both sides of the family.The family would like to thank Dr. Parsons and the team of dedicated nurses at St. Michael’s Cancer Center, who worked with Kathryn for the past two years that provided care and realistic hope as she faced her leukemia diagnosis. The family is also very grateful for the doctors, nurses, OT/PT, and speech therapists at St. Michael’s Hospital who helped Kathryn in her final days. She received excellent care up until the day she peacefully passed, October 29, 2026, from this life into the next. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lutheran World Relief or to the Parkland Community Club in Port Orchard.